Monthly Archives: September 2012

Back to Basics on Monday

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Keith R Mitchell CBE

The local electricity distribution company tells me they will be carrying out routine maintenance to the local network on Monday and we will have no electricity at Nell Bridge House from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. I mainly work from … Continue reading →

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Cursing policemen

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Keith R Mitchell CBE

Have I ever sworn at our men in blue?  ‘Fraid so.  Just about once per week.  In fact, every time I see a Thames Valley Police car or van lurking at the end of my road with a speed camera … Continue reading →

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New local government team at CLG

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Keith R Mitchell CBE

The Cameron reshuffle has left Eric Pickles as the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government but has comprehensively shuffled the rest of the pack giving Eric and local government a completely new team.   At  the Minister of … Continue reading →

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Conference season is with us

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Keith R Mitchell CBE

The political conference season is upon us.  Here is a guide to their timing and location. You probably did not notice but the Greens have already had their conference in Bristol between Friday 7 September from 2:00 pm to Monday … Continue reading →

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Downsizing politics – preserving old buffers or promoting ability?

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Keith R Mitchell CBE

DC hopes to reduce the number of MPs in parliament while promoting equality of size of parliamentary constituencies but the Liberals are threatening to take their bat and ball away.  Labour has enjoyed an inbuilt bias in the electoral system … Continue reading →

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We sit on chairs

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Keith R Mitchell CBE

I have just received my programme for the Conservative Party Conference in October 2012.  It is in Birmingham this year which means I can enjoy the use of a narrow boat on the canal just five minutes walk from the … Continue reading →

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Dodgy David Davis …..

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Keith R Mitchell CBE

David Davis MP, who challenged and lost out to David Cameron in the 2005 Conservative leadership stakes has now gone public advising DC to cut taxes, reduce state regulation and liberalise employment laws for small businesses. No doubt this advice … Continue reading →

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Reshuffle blues

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Keith R Mitchell CBE

It was widely reported that DC was planning a cabinet reshuffle this week and that he hated the thought of it. I have been there and I know how he feels.  The media love it. There is endless speculation about … Continue reading →

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Squatters become criminals

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Keith R Mitchell CBE

The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 has finally made squatting a criminal offence as opposed to one that could only be addressed in the civil courts.  An individual returning from holiday could find his house taken … Continue reading →

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Religious rights or human rights?

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Keith R Mitchell CBE

The European Court of Human Rights is to hear a case next week in Strasbourg that will test the balance between individual’s rights to practice their religion and the growing secularist hostility to any public expression of religious belief. The … Continue reading →

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